Wives of governors across the 36 states of the federation have pledged to drive the country’s substance abuse prevention programs in their various states.
This was contained in their communiqué after a two-day Drug Prevention, Treatment and Care training organised for them in Abuja by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).
As contained in a release by the NDLEA Director, Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, the training was aimed at enhancing the capabilities of governors’ wives to enable them to effectively participate in drug-demand reduction programmes at the state level.
Chairperson of the Nigeria Governors’ Wives Forum (NGWF) and wife of Ekiti State governor, Erelu Bisi Fayemi, gave the commitment on behalf of her colleagues.
She said she and her colleagues recognise the fact that drug and substance use is a serious health challenge in Nigeria and, as first ladies, they are willing to partner with the NDLEA in addressing the drug scourge in the country.
“This training has opened up new perspectives on the drug problem in the country. As mothers and leaders, we are ready to take the lead in reversing the situation,” she assured.
Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohammed Buba Marwa (rtd), said the involvement of the First Ladies would be most impactful as there are no better War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) champions and ambassadors at the state level than the governors’ wives.
Some key decisions reached at the end of the training in Abuja include the establishment and chairing of State Drug Control Committees (SDCC) in all states.
“To ensure sustainability, the SDCC should be a standing committee with budgetary allocation. They equally resolved that the SDCC would develop work plans in line with the NDCMP 2021–2025 as well as ensure coordination with the national secretariat.
“The states will henceforth focus on interventions that have produced evidence-based results, such as the implementation of the unplugged drug prevention education program in all public and private secondary schools.
“The states will help to build the capacities of the frontline workers that will be responsible for the implementation of the drug control interventions, such as DPTC sensitization, unplugged master trainers, and treatment curriculum for drug treatment professionals, among others.
“However, at the local government level, the meeting agreed that the drug committees should be called WADA committees and chaired by the local government chairpersons and membership to include traditional rulers, religious and community leaders,” it was stated in the communique.
The governor’s wive also agreed to make Primary Healthcare Centres available to people with drug use disorders, particularly women.
“Female-only drug treatment centres shall be established, in order to increase women and girls’ access to drug treatment services.
“The forum will, in addition, advocate the establishment of, at least, three rehabilitation centres in every state; one in each senatorial district with the allocation of funds to build one rehabilitation centre per budget year.
“Other areas of concern include liaising with the presidency’s at-risk children program to ensure the inclusion of out-of-school children as well as drug testing for intending couples,” Babafemi stated in the release.
